Alumina coagulant



7 E0 Drawing.

HUGH HOCURDY SPENCER, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, -CAL COMPANY, ACORIPORATIQN OF NEW 1::

ALUMINA COAG'ULANT.

To all whom it may concern.

.Be it known that I, HUGH MoCImDY SPENCER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of'Essex, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Alumina Coagulants; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to the purification of liquids and solutions and particularly to the purification of water for industrial and municipal use and has for one of its principal objects the more efiicient and convenient removal of suspended or colloidal matter from such liquids by means of an improved allumina-containing coagulant or precipitating agent. Another object is to facilitate the efiicient filtration, centrifugation, etc. of finely suspended or colloidal solids or liquids in a liquid medium.

Hitherto in the purification of water by methods involving the use of aluminum compounds, the usual practice has been to add the aluminum compound to the raw or treated water inthe form of commercial aluminum sulfate or frequently as ordinary alum. If the water is very alkaline copperas is also sometimes added, for the reason that the gelatinous precipitate of ferric hydroxide resulting from the action of the copperas on the water is less soluble in alkaline waters than is aluminum hydr0x-" ide, the ferric hydroxide taking the place of the portion of alumina re-dissolved by the excess alkali. After suflicient time has been allowed for'the reaction between the aluminum compound and the alkalis of the water to take place,'to'produce a precipitate of hydrated alumina, the water is ordinarily filtered (by methods already well-known in the art) whereby the recipita'ted alumina,

along with the suspen ed and colloidal mat-- ter originally present in the water is 'removed, producing a clarified water. If desired, the clarified water from the filtering operation may then be subjected to any fur-- ther suitable treatment, as with water softening agents or sterilizing agents, septic tank treatment, or other suitable agencies to complete the purification, all-according to well knownprocedures. y k

The reaction between the aluminum salt Application filed October 10, 1922. Serial No. 593,640.

will not be precipitated at all, or at leastordinarily it will not be precipitated in sufficient amounts toaid in the filtering operation to bring about-an effective precipitation of suspended and colloidal impurities. The basic compounds ordinarily employed for neutralizing the acid of the raw waters to render them alkaline are lime, caustic soda or soda ash.

In the purification of industrial waste ASSIGNQB '1'0 SEYDEL CHEMI- waters such as the waste liquors from tanneries, wood pulp waste-liquors, etc., lime containing compounds are frequently used in connection with the variousother treatments all directed to the purification of these waste waters toa suflicient extent to pro.-

mote their introduction into streams and rivers without polluting the same. In all of these instances where an aluminum compound is employed as a coagulating or precipitating reagent, either alone or in connection with other're copperas, etc., the reaction of the water before the addition of the aluminum compound .must be carefully adjusted. That is :to say, the raw water before treatment with ents such' as lime,

the aluminum compound must either be alkalinejto begin with or must be rendered so by the addition of suitable reagents as reviously mentioned. On the other 'han a raw water which is originally too alkaline, or which has been rendered so by treatment will retard the precipitation of the hydrated alumina and thus render the precipitating action of the aluminum salt less effective to a ater or less degree. This necessary reiminary treatment or control of thea kalinity of the raw water constitutes one of the most troublesome of the many serious difficulties encountered in the application of alumina coagulants in the purification of water according to the methods hitherto in use and one of the principal objects of-the present invention is to provide an aluminative in many more instances than hitherto in removing suspended and colloidal impuri ties from the water without the necessity of subjecting the raw water to a preliminary treatment to control and regulate the alkaline reaction prior to the addition of the alumina-coagulant.

Also, as already mentioned, among the other serious diificulties hitherto met with in the application of alumina-coagulants has been the necessity for the prolonged storage of the water during the time required for the coagulating action of the aluminum compound to complete itself. The large storage and settling basins required for this purpose add materially to the cost and inconvenience of treating. waters by this method, and the overcoming or lessening of this difliculty constitutes a'second very important object of my invention. 7

These and other desirable objectives are accomplished in accordance with the present invention in an economical and con- 7 when added in relatively small amounts to a relatively large volume'of water, hydrated alumina is at once precipitated in a form which carries down the impurities with it and also which can be readlly removed by the usual-methods of filtration and, furthermore, this highly advantageous result is attained with a great variety of raw waters, industrial waste liquors,- and other liquids of widely varying nature and characteristics without preliminary treatment.

More specifically, these advantageous results are accomplished by providing, in the preferred form of the invention a concentrated alumina-containing coagulant which is very nearly neutral or slightly acid in reaction, and in which the hydrated alumina is present, not in a precipitated or gelatinous form as would naturallybe expected with neutralized or partially neutralized aluminum'gsalts under ordinary circumstances, but in which it is present in a dissolved or artially' dissolved state or colloidal condition from which state it does not separate to any objectlonable. extent even when allowed to stand for considerable periods of time. l/Vhen, however, this improved coagulant is diluted to any considerable extent, as for example when it is added to the water to be purified, the alumina content, as mentioned, readily passes into the form of a gelatinous coagulum or precipitate carrying the suspended and colloidal impurities, bacteria, etc., along with it.

This action is the more remarkable, since, as is Well-known, when a solution containing an aluminum salt is gradually neutralized by caustic soda, for example to reduce the acidity of the solution a portion of the alumina in the solution will first separate (as the neutralizing agent is added) in the form of a gelatinous precipitate or coagulum, and then completely re-dissolve as excess is added. lin other words when this ordinary method of neutralizing or precipitating alumina-containing solutions is employed (as one would normally be led to practice) it is not possible or practicable to obtain a partially or nearly neutralized or slightly acid alumina-containing solution without, at the same time, obtaining a? precipitate of a considerable portion of the alumina content. But by employing the process and means of the present invention, such a partially or nearly neutralized or slightly acid concentrated solution of an aluminum compound can lee-obtained with out obtaining any objectionable precipitate or coagulate of the alumina. That is to say, as a certain neutral point or iso electric point is approached or almost reached, the solution remains or becomes mechanically homogeneous in character (that is, there is no objectionable precipitation) and shows usually only a slight turbidity or milkiness due to the formation of hydrated alumina in a highly disseminated or colloidal condition in the liquid. 7

The preferred reagent employed to produce this result in accordance with the present invention, is a basic salt ofa strong base and a weak acid, such for example as sodium carbonate or bi-carbonate or similar alkali metal carbonate or carbonate of ammonium, normal sodium sulphite, di-sodium hydrogen phosphate, etc. By basic salt, in this connection li mean a salt which has a sutficiently strong basic strength to reduce the acidity of a solution of an aluminum salt to the degree specified. In other words I believe that the acid of the basic salt must be replaceable,to a substantial extent by the acid of the aluminum salt, and that this acid must. be capable of peptizing the hydrated alumina but not strong enough to completely dissolve or chemically combine with the alumina to form a stable compound therewith in 'solution or cause it to precipitate.

It will also be seen that the present invention in one of its aspects provides for the purification of water through the agency of an aluminum salt and a basic compound, not by adding the basic compound to the water prior to the treatment of the water with thealuminum compound as in the usual methods, but, on the contrary, by providing for the addition of the basic compound to a concentrated solution containing the aluminum salt and then the addition of this pinigture to the water or solution to be purie v One of the important and unexpected advantages obtainedby this procedure, as altime required for the formation of the gelatinous precipitate or coagulum of hydrated alumina. Another advantage is the eliminatiomin many instances, of the necessity of subjecting acid waters to a neutralizing treatment before adding the aluminacoagulant. The precipitation referred to occurs even when the water to be treated contains free acid in an amount chemically equivalent to the alumina-content of the coa lant or aluminum salt, whereas-if the equivalent amount of base were first added to the water to neutralize the acid content thereof, in accordance-with older practice, theprecipitation of hydrated alumina would frequently either not take place at all or else would be retarded to such an extent that a long period of time would be required to bring about the desired precipitation, with theaccompanying disadvantages as to the storage tanks and time of treatment referred to above.

While I do not wish, to restrict the scope of my invention by any unwarranted assumption or explanations as to the exact chemical reactions or other changes which weak acid which is formed when the splution containing the'aluminum salt-is neutralcos take place either during the preparation of my improved coagulant or during the action of the latter upon the water, nevertheless, I believe that the formation of the improved coagulant in accordance with the methodof the present invention is due in art'at least to a pepti zation or partial solu ilization of the hydrated alumina precipitate 'or coa ulum by the carbonic acid or other simi r ized by sodium carbonate or like salt of a strong base and a weak acid. Also this is the explanation, I believe, of the fact, for examp e that I may prepare my improved ant in one of its forms by first. precipitating hydrated alumina, from a solution of an aluminum salt by means of caustic soda and then passing carbon dioxide through the mixture thus obtained, or otherwise addin a suitable weakly acidic substance until t e coagulated or precipitated hydrate of alumina is peptized or partially solubilized to produce a li uid containing the hydrated alumina in 00 loidal or partially sol- I ubilized condition such that when diluted it readily decomposes to again reproduce the precipitate or coagulum of hydrated alumina.

.The formation of a satisfacto preci tate of hydrated alumina in accor ance with agulant in relativel and in part to the s owness with which then the method of the present invention, even in the presence of an amount of acid e ui'va lent or nearly equivalent to the total a umina added, is due also, I believe, in part at least to the dilution of the weak acid or other peptizing agent which resent in the coconcentrations,

precipitated or coagulated hydratedlalumina reacts with the dilute solution of acid already resent in the water. Another feature 0 the present invention which contributes to this same result is the greater ease-with which the improved alumina-containing coagulant is hydrolized when dilu.ted.. The improved coagulant is adjusted with respect to its hydrolizable properties in such way thatit 1s readily decomposed upon dilution to form a gelatinous precipitate of aluminum hydroxide, whereas the aluminum salts, solutions and compounds hitherto used forthis purpose, being more amples but that theyare given merely by way of illustrating a few embodiments of my invention: I

Example 1.-.-Run 240 pounds of water into a steam jacketed kettle that is lined with enamel or stoneware or any other substance that is notattacked by sulphate of alumina. Bring the water to a boil and add to it '286 pounds of commercial sulphate of alumina that is either .iron free or not, as

the case may be. The iron free is preferred for drinking water clarification. Stir until the sulphate of alumina has completely dissolved. Allow this solution to cool to room temperature, or else cool it artificially by pipe coils or by admitting cold water into the jacket. Add, little by little and with however, that my invention is not constant stirring, 72 ounds of finely pow dered"co1nmercial a-ash, The soda-ash should not be addedtboquikly since this will cause too ra id fr due to the de-. com sition of e sodaeash ythe sulphate of amine and the solution is 'aptto foam over. Allow the solution to I stand .over night, after which it isready for use.

The above formula may be varied by using the proportions of 800 parts water, 800 parts commercial sulphate of alumina, and 200 parts soda-ash. Also the soda-ash 'may be dissolved in water and the sulphate of alumina added in the proportions given in Example 1. However, this last method is troublesome because aluminum hydrate will not redisperse until practically all the soda has been neutralized and the solution has become acid, Hence the rule to follow' is to add the soda to the sul hate of aluminum and not vice versa. 1 :1 conclusion it must be remembered that the amount of soda can'be in any degree less than that given in Example 1, but it should not be much more than the amount indicated because if the solution crosses theiso-electric point precipitation of aluminum hydrate occurs which is not redispersable unless the solution is again rendered acid by the addition of more sulphate of alumina or some acid.

Ezramplc 2.Follow the procedure sub-- hydrogen phosphate (Na HPO 12H O) for.

the sodium carbonate used in Example 1 to peptize or partially redissolve the precipitate of hydrated alumina. first formed to bring the alumina into substantially the same dispersed state or colloidal condition as in the end product of Example 1. r

In applying the improved coagulant prepared in accordance with the foregoing example to the clarification of industrial waste liquors, the amount of my improved coagulant which should be used varies considerably according to the character of the liquor beingtreated and the amount of solid matter already present, but I have obtained good results in the clarification of certain wasteliquors by adding the colloidal coagulant prepared as described in this example in amounts corresponding to one-half of one percent to one percent by weight of the water or waste-liquors treated.

I claim:

1. An improved coagulant for clarifying aqueous liquids comprising a liquid containing hydrated alumina in a peptized state.

2. An improved coagulant for'clarifying aqueous liquids comprising a liquid containing hydrated alumina in a peptized state in relatively high concentration.

3. An improved coagulant for clarifying aqueous liquids comprising a liquid containing hydrated alumina, the hydrated alumina.

being present in the liquid in such condition that it is readily precipitatable from the liquid when the liquid is diluted with water. .4.- An improved coagulant for clarifyingaqueous liquids comprising a solution of an aluminum salt which has been partially neutralized, the partially neutralized solution being substantially homogeneous with respect to the hydrated alumina contained therein.

5. An improved aluminawontaining co agulant for clarifying aqueous liquids comprising a partially neutralized solution of a salt of aluminum and a peptizing agent capable of peptizing hydrated alumina, the coagulant being substantially homogeneous with respect to' the hydrated alumina contained therein.

6. an improved alumina-containing coagulant for clarifying aqueous liquids comprising a partially neutralized solution of a salt of aluminum and a weakly acidic peptizing agent for the alumina, the coagulant being substantially homogeneous with respect to the hydrated alumina contained therein.

7. An improved alun'iina-containing coagulant for clarifying aqueous liquids comprising a partially neutralized solution-of a salt of aluminum and a carbonic acid peptizing agent, the liquid coagulant being substantially homogeneous with respect to the hydrated alumina contained therein.

8. An improved alumina-containing coagulant for clarifying aqueous liquids comprising a partially neutralized solution of a salt of aluminum, the solution being sub stantially acid in its reaction toward indicators of the class (with respect to sensitiveness) to which litmus belongs, .and being substantially homogenous with respect to the alumina contained therein.

9. An improved alumina-containing coagulant for clarifying aqueous liquids comprising a partially neutralized solution of a salt of aluminum, the solution being acid in its reaction toward indicators which show a- 7 corresponding to a p value of about 6%.

10. An improved alumina-containing coagulant for clarifying aqueous liquids comprising a concentrated solution of an aluminum salt which has been almost completelyneutralized by the addition thereto of a basic salt of a strong base and a weak acid.

11. An improved alumina-containing coagulant for clarifying aqueous liquids com prising a concentrated solution of an aluminum salt which has been almost completely neutralized by the addition thereto of a carbonate of an alkali metal.

. 12. The method of preparing an aluminacontaining coagulant for purifying aqueous liquids which comprises subjecting a. solution of an aluminum salt to the action of a carbonate of an alkali. metal in amount suficient to peptize the hydrate of alumina formed. t

13. The method of preparing an aluminacontaining coagulant for purifying aqueous liquids which comprises subjectng a solution of an aluminum salt to the action of the carbonate of an alkali metal in such amount as to produce a stable dispersion of hydrated alumina in the liquid.

- opalescent due to the formation of a stable .tion of an aluminum salt to the action of a hydroxide of an alkali metal and carbon dioxide as a peptizing agent for the alumina. 15. The method of preparing an improvedv V alumina-containing coagulant for purifying and clarifying aqueous liquids which'comprises subjecting a solution of an aluminum saltto the'action of a carbonate of an alkali metal in increasing amounts; with stirring,

' at ordinary temperatures until the hydrated alumina which first precipitates part-ially redissolves and thesolution becomes colloidal solution of hydrated alumina.

16. The method of preparing an improved aluminarcontaining coagulant for clarifying aqueous liquids which comprises subjecting a solution of an aluminum salt-to the action of a carbonate of an-alkalimetal in amounts such that the solution is no longer acid in. reaction toward indicators having a sensitiveness about equal to about that of methyl orange, but such that it remains acid toward indicators having a. sensitiveness about equal to about that of litmus.

17. The method of purifying aqueous liquids to remove suspended im urities therefrom, which comprises subjecting the liquid to the action of a solution of a-salt of aluminum which concentrated solution hasbeen previously partially neutralized by means of a carbonate of an alkali metal.

' 18. The method of purifying water to remove suspended impurities therefrom which comprises subjecting water to the action of a concentrated colloidal solution of hydrated umma. 19. The method of purifying water to remove suspended and colloidal impurities therefrom, which comprises subjecting the water to the action of a solution of. an aluminum salt which is sufliciently basic in its reaction to turn methyl orange indicator from pink to yellow, but which does not contain more than sufiicient base to produce this color reaction and which also contains dissolved carbon dioxide whereby theh :drated alumina which otherwise would precipitated under these conditions is peptized and-rendered-sufiiciently soluble to prevent it's precipitation untildil An improved aluminarcontaining coant for urifying water by the removal o suspend and colloidal impurities there-' from which comprises a homogeneous liquid contain an aluminum salt and less than an equiv ent amount of a carbonate of an 11 metal.

21. The method of purifying water, which comprises subjecting the water to the action of a solution prepared from an aluminum salt and less than an equivalent amount of a carbonate of an alkali metal containing hydrated alumina in a peptized state in high concentration.

22. The method of preparing .an improved alumina-containing coagulant for purifying water by. the removal of suspended and colloidal impurities therefrom which comprises subjecting a concentrated solution of a salt of aluminum to the action of less than an equivalent amount of a; basic salt of a strong base and a weak acid;

23. The method of preparing an improved alumina-containing coagulant for purifying water, which comprises subjecting a concentrated'solution ofanaluminum salt to the action of less than an equivalent amount of a carbonate of an alkali-metal.

24. The method of preparing an aluminacontaining. coagulant for purifying water which comprises subjecting a. solution containing a salt of aluminum to the action of less than an equivalent amount of an hydroxide of an alkali metal and. carbon dioxide as a peptizing agent for the alumina.

25. The method of preparing an alumina containing coagulant for'purifying water, which comprises subjecting a solution containing a salt of aluminum to the action of less than that amount of'an hydroxide of an alkali metal which is sufiicient' to completely redissolve the precipitate of hydrated alumina first formed; and then subjecting the liquid to the actipn of carbon dioxide I s. 26. The method of ireparing an aluminacontaining coagulant for purifying water, which comprises subjecting a solution containing a. salt ofaluminum to the action of an amount of carbonate of an alkali metal which is insuflicient-to produce a. permanent precipitate of hydratedalumina, but which is sufiicient to produce a permanent turbidi taining a saltof aluminum to the action of a suflicient amount ofta carbonate of an alkali metal to reduce the acid reaction of the solution to about that of a saturated solution of carbonic acid gas. I .28. The method of purifying water by means of an aluminum salt and a base whic comprises mixing the base with a concentrated: solution of'the aluminum salt then subjecting a relatively large-volume of the water to be purified to the action ofu'the mixture'of the aluminum salt and base.

29. The method of purifying water by means of an aluminum salt and a carbonate of an alkali metal which comprises mixing a relatively concentrated solution. of the aluminum salt with the carbonateeof the alkali metal and then subjecting ,afrelativa 1y large volume of Wat-er to .d

to the action of the mixture of the aluminum 1 salt and carbonate.

30. The method of preparing an improved alumina-containing coagulant for clarifying aqueous liquids which comprises partiall neutralizing a solution of an aluminum sa t by means of a basic salt of a strong base and a very weak acid.

31. The method of purifying Water by means of an aluminum salt and a base which comprises partially neutralizing a concentratecl solution of the aluminum salt with the base and then subjecting a relatively large volume of the Water to be purified to the action of the partially neutralized solution. 32. The method of purifying water by means of an aluminum salt and a carbonate of an alkali metal which comprises partially neutralizing a relatively concentrated solution of the aluminum salt with the carbonate of the alkali metal and then subjecting a relatively large Volume of the. water to be purified to the action of the partially neutralized solution.

In testimony whereof lt my signature. HUGH MGCURDY SPENCER. 

